Check-protector.



C. E. DICK.

CHECK PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21,1917.

PItented June 5,1917.

TED SATES PA OFFICE.

CHARLES E. DICK, OF PICKAWAY COUNTY, NEAR MOUNT STERLING, OHIO.

CHECK-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Application filed February 21, 1917. Serial No. 150,115.

has for its object to provide. a device ofv this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby it can be conveniently applied to a checkbook and utilized to prepare the checks after they are written so that any alteration of the amount thereof is practically impossible without detection.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively'simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be inexpensively stamped from a single piece of sheet metal and either sold at .a small price or distributed gratuitously for advertising purposes, which can be readily applied to a check book or the like, and which enables the check to be easily mutilated upon a certain area thereof in sucha manner as to render it impossible to alter any writing or figures upon this area.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, 1n which Figure 1 is a perspective view of acheck book having one of the check protectors applied to the back thereof.

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the check protector.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the check protector.

Fig. 4- is a longitudinal sectional view through the check protector, showmg the resilient jaw thereof as pressed downwardly for cooperation with the basev to mutllate the area of the check upon which the amount for which the check is payable has been written.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The check protector attachment is designed to be stamped from a single sheet of resilient material, and includes a flat base plate 1' which has a series of transverse rows of openings punched upwardly therefrom, the edges ofthe opemngsbeing surrounded by upwardly projecting ragged edges 2 which provide sharp teeth of a kind Well adapted to punch and mutilate a sheet of paper. One end of the base plate 1 is formed with an integral extension which is returned under the base plate and provides a clamping arm 3 which is adapted to cooperate with the base plate to grip the back 4 of a check book or the like to hold the device in position thereon. A resilient roll 5 is provided at the junction of the plate 1 and clamping arm 3, said roll tending to increase the resilient action of the clamping arm, and also enabling the device to be readily applied to different 'to the check book.

An integral extension projects from the opposite end of the base plate 1 and is returned over the same, providing a jaw 7 which is connected to the base plate by a.

contracted neck 8. This neck 8 has the edges thereof curved inwardly at 8 to provide a finger hold by means of which the device can be easily grasped and manipulated. It will thus be noted that the sides of the neck 8 are brought together at a point spaced from the looped portion thereof, and that the jaw 7 normally projects at an angle to the base plate 1. very resilient connection is thereby provided between the jaw 7 and the base plate 1, and the'jaw can be readily forced downwardly toward the base plate by pressing against the same with the fingers, although it will spring upwardly into inoperative position as soon as released. This aw 7 is provided with a series of transverse rows of downwardly punched openings which are surrounded by ragged edges 9 providing sharp teeth of a kind well adapted for use in mutilating a sheet of paper. The downwardly projecting ragged edges 9 of theopenings in the jaw 7 are arranged in transverse rows which have a staggered relation to the transverse rows of ragged edges 2 which project upwardly from the base plate 1, so that the two sets of ragged edges are not brought into engagement with each other when the jaw 7 is pressed downwardly.

When using the device, one of the checks 10 of the check book can be written out in the usual manner, the check detached, and the portion thereof having the amount for which the check is payable designated thereon in numerals, inserted between the jaw 7 and base plate 1 of the check 'protector. The jaw 7 is then forcibly pressed downwardly by the fingers as indicated at Fig. 4, thereby causing the teeth or ragged edges 2 and 9 of the base plate and jaw, respectively, to punch and mutilate the check, leaving the area thereof which was inserted between the jaws, mutilated by the teeth and covered with sharply defined ribs and depressions. Any erasure would be impossible without altering the appearance of this mutilated portion of the check to such an extent as to be clearly indicated, and it would be practically impossible to write upon this portion of the check with a pen, since the ruptures in the paper would render it impossible to make a figure of smooth and regular outline thereon, as well as tend to carry away the ink from the pen and make blots.

If desired, the clamping jaw 3 may have a pair of sharp prongs l1 stamped from the interior area thereof at points toward its opposite ends. These sharp prongs need not be used if it is not desired, although they are adapted'to be bent upwardly and arranged to extend through the back 4 of the check book. The base plate 1 may be provided with corresponding slots 12 adapted to receive the ends of the prongs 11. After passing'through the slots the extremities of the prongs can be bent laterally, and'the device will then be securely fastened to the check book, in such a manner that it can not be lost or accidentally misplaced.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A check protector attachment for check books, including a flat base plate having a series of openings punched upwardly therethrough and surrounded by ragged edges, an extension projecting from one end of the base plate and returned under the same to provide a clamping arm for cooperation with the base plate to hold the device in position, a jaw arranged over the base plate, a looped integral neck connecting the jaw to the opposite end of the base plate, the edges of the looped neck being recessed to provide a finger hold and the sides of the neck being brought together at a point spaced from the looped portion thereof, the jaw having openings punched downwardly thercthrough and surrounded by ragged teeth arranged for cooperation with the ragged teeth of the plate to mutilate a piece of paper inserted between the jaw and the plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. DICK.

Witnesses:

' R. H. SCHRYON,

O. J. RAY. 

